Angry Man City star Gareth Barry faces FA rap

Manchester City’s Gareth Barry has been charged by the FA for a breach of its Rule E3 in that he used abusive and/or insulting words towards a match official following the Manchester City v Manchester United game on Sunday

FA spokesman

The England midfielder was charged in relation to his behaviour at the end of the Blues’ explosive derby defeat to United at the Etihad Stadium.

Barry blew his top and could be seen abusing the fourth official as United celebrated their crucial win.

An FA spokesman said: “Manchester City’s Gareth Barry has been charged by the FA for a breach of its Rule E3 in that he used abusive and/or insulting words towards a match official following the Manchester City v Manchester United game on Sunday.”

Barry has until 4pm tomorrow to respond to the charge and is expected to request a personal hearing. If he accepts the charge he will be hit with an automatic one-match ban.

The suspension will be doubled if he denies it and is found guilty at a subsequent hearing.

Losing Barry is the last thing boss Roberto Mancini needs following a fortnight to forget for the under-fire Italian.

Mancini has seen the Blues crash out of Europe altogether following a winless Champions League campaign and fall six points behind United at the top of the table.

The champions face a run of six games in three weeks over the festive period and Mancini can ill afford to lose one of his most influential stars to suspension.